Here's What to Buy in the Fall If You Want to Save Money

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Come fall, there's no shortage of discounts to shop, but the items on sale may surprise you. Think: swimsuits, camping gear, sunglasses, patio furniture, back-to-school basics, and more. Because it's no longer peak season for these staples, you're more likely to win the retail lottery and get serious discounts that are worth waiting for.

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So without further ado, here's what to shop this season. And trust us — you'll find deals aplenty!

Halloween Items

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You'll see the deepest discounts on Halloween costumes and candy right before the holiday strikes so that stores can start clearing their inventory by the time November rolls around. Check out Spirit Halloween for major deals and discounts.

Camping Gear

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Only the most dedicated outdoors-people camp during the winter (unless, of course, you live in Florida), so you'll find major discounts on outdoor items like fishing and hiking gear, as well as camping basics like tents and tarps. Offers.com reports that you can save up to 70% during end-of-season sales. Shop stores like REI, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Bass Pro Shops for discounts.

RetailMeNot calls the days between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday the "Five Days of Savings," and during this period, you'll find the deepest discounts on tech items like TVs, tablets, video game consoles, and even some tech-y home appliances. Where should you buy? Stores like Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe's, and JCPenney all offer major savings during this time.

Beauty Products

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Items like palettes and special beauty gift sets will be at a greater discount during November right before Thanksgiving. You'll find sales of up to 40% off at this time, so consider buying just before Thanksgiving and into the "Five Days of Savings." Shop stores like Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, and Nordstrom for major beauty savings.

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Cars

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The best time to buy a car is toward the end of the year when dealerships need to start creating room for next year's lines. Not only will you see an uptick in deals and promotions, you'll also have more room to negotiate, potentially landing a major discount.

Large Appliances

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New appliance models usually start arriving to large retailers mid-October, so you'll start seeing last year's models going on sale as early as September. Smaller items like vacuums will have their biggest sales during the "Five Days of Savings." Shop stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, and JCPenney for discounts.

Lawn Mowers

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As home improvement stores begin clearing stock to make room for cold-weather items like snow blowers, you'll find outdoor items like lawn mowers and large landscaping tools on sale. Shop stores like Home Depot and Lowe's for savings.

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Grills

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This one may be obvious, but once backyard barbecue weather comes to an end (RIP), stores will be putting grills and smokers on sale to make room for other winter stock. Shop stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, and JCPenney for discounts.

Patio Furniture

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Patio furniture goes on sale for the same reason that grills do around this time of year. As retailers need to make room for winter items, large goods (specifically those intended for warm-weather use) will be deeply discounted in the fall. Shop on sites like Wayfair and Joss & Main, plus at stores like Macy's, Home Depot, and Lowe's for savings.

Sunglasses

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The best deals on sunglasses happen just after summer, in the months of September and October. Because consumers aren't rushing to buy sunglasses during the cold months, retailers often place them on sale to encourage purchases. Shop at Sunglass Hut, Lord & Taylor, Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks OFF 5TH, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, and other major department stores.

Swimsuits

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Though pickings may be slim by this time of year, you'll find bathing suits on sale everywhere as it starts to cool off. Buy for the next season and save big. Shop larger retailers like Macy's, Lord & Taylor, Target, and even Swimsuits for All to get the best discounts.

Back-to-School Basics (Especially Denim and Backpacks)

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As back-to-school sales come to an end, you'll start to see items like denim and backpacks dropping in price to create room for holiday stock. Though denim specifically will experience sales and promotions year-round, the deepest price cuts will be in October and November as a result of back-to-school stock not selling out. Shop stores like Charlotte Russe, Forever21, Macy's, and Kohl's.

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Kitchen Items

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Because retailers know you'll be baking and cooking up a storm come Thanksgiving, they'll start putting higher-end items like fancy pots, pans, and bakeware on sale. Shop places like Macy's, Wayfair, Joss & Main, and Bloomingdale's for major kitchen savings.

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Sally KaplanI spend my whole day covering sales and deals for BestProducts.com and then trying not to shop them while I’m at work.